Speed release mechanism for cylinder and plug assembly for use with cabinet locks

Abstract

A cylinder and plug assembly is released by depression of a springloaded release button. The release button engages a radially directed aperture in a unitary shell. The radially directed aperture has longitudinally directed, diametrically opposed extensions which facilitate engagement and disengagement of the release button with the aperture.

I claim: PG,11 
     
       1. A quick release cylinder and plug assembly for cabinet door and drawer locks and the like, comprising: a unitary shell defining a backing plate portion and an elongated cylindrical housing portion having an open end for removably receiving a cylinder and plug assembly, the cylindrical housing portion further defining a radially directed, substantially circular aperture having diametrically opposed, longitudinally directed aperture extensions, each extension having a width substantially less than the diameter of the circular aperture;   a re-keyable, tumbler type cylinder and plug assembly having a radially directed, spring loaded release button protruding therefrom and positioned for engagement with the substantially circular aperture in the unitary shell;   self ejecting means for ejecting the cylinder and plug assembly out of the cylindrical housing portion when the release button is depressed; and   self alignment means for aligning the release button with the substantially circular aperture and the longitudinally directed aperture extensions as the cylinder and plug assembly is inserted into the open end, whereby the release button is automatically re-engaged with the circular aperture when the cylinder and plug assembly is fully inserted through the open end and whereby the cylinder and plug assembly is automatically ejected from the unitary shell when the release button is depressed.   
     
     
       2. The quick release cylinder and plug assembly of claim 1, wherein the release button has an enlarged diameter portion sized to be closely received in a substantially constant diameter radially directed bore in the cylinder and plug assembly, and a reduced diameter protruding portion forming a shoulder at a junction between the enlarged and reduced diameter portions. 
     
     
       3. The quick release cylinder and plug assembly of claim 2, wherein the cylinder and plug assembly is constructed from a substantially malleable material and wherein the bore is closely surrounded by a plurality of stakes driven into the cylinder and plug assembly adjacent to the bore so as to deform the malleable material laterally into the bore and above the shoulder of the release button to retain the release button within the bore. 
     
     
       4. The quick release cylinder and plug assembly of claim 3, wherein a washer is positioned between the shoulder and the stakes. 
     
     
       5. The quick release cylinder and plug assembly of claim 3, wherein the self-alignment means has a radially inwardly and longitudinally outwardly directed alignment lug within the cylindrical housing portion, and a cooperatively shaped alignment groove in an exterior surface of the cylinder and plug assembly. 
     
     
       6. The quick release cylinder and plug assembly of claim 2, wherein the cylinder and plug assembly has a milled out area therein adjacent to the release button and wherein the release button is retained in the bore by a flush plate connected to the cylinder and plug assembly and defining an aperture sized to pass the reduced diameter portion of the release button therethrough but not to pass the enlarged diameter portion therethrough. 
     
     
       7. The quick release cylinder and plug assembly of claim 6, wherein the flush plate is connected to the cylinder and plug assembly by a flush screw. 
     
     
       8. The quick release cylinder and plug assembly of claim 6, wherein the flush plate has a downturned lip thereon, wherein the cylinder and plug assembly has a radial slot therein, and wherein the lip is received in the slot in an interference fit. 
     
     
       9. A re-keyable cabinet door and drawer lock and the like, comprising: a unitary shell defining a backing plate portion and an elongated cylindrical housing portion having an open end for removably receiving a cylinder and plug assembly, the cylindrical housing portion further defining a radially directed, substantially circular aperture having diametrically opposed, aperture extensions;   a re-keyable, tumbler type cylinder and plug assembly manufactured from a substantially malleable material and having a spring loaded release button reciprocally received in a substantially constant diameter radially directed bore, the release button having an enlarged diameter portion sized to be closely received in the bore, and a reduced diameter portion for protruding from the bore and positioned for engagement with the circular aperture in the unitary shell, the enlarged and reduced diameter portions forming a shoulder at a junction therebetween, the cylinder and plug assembly further having a plurality of stakes driven around a perimeter of the bore so as to deform the malleable material laterally into the bore and above the shoulder of the release button to retain the release button within the bore;   self ejecting means for ejecting the cylinder and plug assembly out of the cylindrical housing portion when the release button is depressed; and   self alignment means for aligning the release button with the substantially circular aperture and the aperture extensions as the cylinder and plug assembly is inserted into the open end, whereby the release button is automatically re-engaged with the circular aperture when the cylinder and plug assembly is fully seated in the cylindrical housing portion and whereby the cylinder and plug assembly is automatically ejected from the unitary shell when the release button is depressed.   
     
     
       10. The lock of claim 9, wherein a washer is positioned between the shoulder and the stakes. 
     
     
       11. A method for retaining a spring loaded release button in a removable, re-keyable cylinder and plug assembly, comprising the steps of: forming a radially directed bore having a substantially constant bore diameter in a cylinder and plug assembly manufactured from a substantially malleable material;   inserting a spring loaded release button having an enlarged diameter portion sized to be closely received in the bore, and a reduced diameter portion for protruding from the bore into the bore and depressing the button against the spring load; and   driving a plurality of stakes around a perimeter of the bore so as to deform the malleable material laterally into the bore above the enlarged diameter portion of the release button to retain the release button within the bore.   
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11 wherein before the stake driving step and after the button inserting step an annular washer having an outer diameter approximately equal to the bore diameter and an inner diameter larger than the reduced diameter portion of the release button is inserted into the bore and around the reduced diameter potion so that after the staking step the washer is substantially flush with an outer surface of the cylinder and plug assembly.